Pesticides are are defined according to their uses in four distinct European regulations: plant protection products, biocides, veterinary medicines and medicinal products for human use. These regulations were introduced in order to create a harmonized legal framework within the European Union. The same substance may be regulated by several directives. This is the case, for example, with permethrinwhich has not been approved as a crop protection product in Europe since 2000, but is authorized for domestic insecticide use as a biocide, or as a veterinary or medical product in anti-lice lotions.
PHYTOPHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS
European Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, which came into force on June 14, 2011, succeeds Directive 91/414/EEC, the previous reference text in force in France since 1993.
BIOCIDAL PRODUCTS
Biocidal productsbiocidal products are defined by European regulation (EC) no. 528/2012 of 22/05/2012 concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market. Article 2 defines biocidal products as follows: "Active substances and preparations containing one or more active substances which are presented in the form in which they are delivered to the user, intended to destroy, repel, render harmless, prevent the action of or otherwise combat harmful organisms by chemical or biological action".
VETERINARY DRUGS
Veterinary medicinal products are defined by Directive 2004/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of March 31, 2004 amending Directive 2001/82/EC on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products. They are defined as follows in point 2 of article 1er:
- any substance or composition represented as having curative or preventive properties with respect to diseases animales ; or
- any substance or composition which may be used in or administered to animals either to restore, correct or modify physiological functions by exerting a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action or to make a medical diagnosis.
MEDICINES FOR HUMAN USE
Medicinal products for human use are defined by Directive 2004/27/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of March 31, 2004 amending Directive 2001/83/EC on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use. They are defined as follows in point 2 of article 1er:
- any substance or composition presented as having curative or preventive properties with respect to diseases humaines ;
- any substance or composition which may be used in or administered to human beings either to restore, correct or modify physiological functions by exerting a pharmacological, immunological or metabolic action, or to make a medical diagnosis.